Recent Developments

The East Bay Express published a timely article this week that details the damaging effects of the Costa-Hawkins 'ban' on rent control and suggests some solutions including reforming or overturning the law.

Please sign our petition and let Mayor Schaaf know that Oakland renters need her support now to provide emergency protections for Oakland renters and take a leadership role in reforming or overturning Costa-Hawkins.

Oakland is an amazing city - we have the power to take the lead as this fight goes statewide!

Thanks to the successful 901 Jefferson Tenant Association protest on Monday, March 16 that was covered by KRON 4 and KPIX 5, the $5.7B Berkshire Group has been working with tenants to offer more reasonable increases and better lease terms.

That said, the real battle is just beginning. It is now time to ask Mayor Schaaf to advocate for all Oakland renters and join Keep Oaktown Affordable in the fight to overturn the unjust Costa-Hawkins law!

The 901 Jefferson Tenant Association along with friends and family will stage a sidewalk protest of Berkshire Group on Monday, March 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.

At 5:45/6:00 p.m. there will be a moment of silence and balloon release to recognize neighbors who have been displaced by rent increases. Thanks to Oaklandish for donating t-shirts and Pietissery for donating pastries for the event.

901 Jefferson tenants are open to reasonable rent increases and are protesting Berkshire Group tactics, including questionable lease renewal terms andunreasonable rent increase amounts amounts up to 110%.

The $5.7B Berkshire Group lease renewals terms include highly increased base rents, decreased services and added fees which may amount up to hundreds of extra dollars each month. The lease renewal terms do not specify fixed costs for most of the additional fees outside of parking (now an extra $100 a month).

On Monday, March 2, the tenants of 901 Jefferson Street in Oakland voted to form a tenant association to fight skyrocketing rent increases proposed by their new landlord, Berkshire Group. Nearly 60 tenants attended the first meeting, and they were joined by Casey Farmer from Oakland City Council President Lynette McElhaney’s office and organizers from Tenants Together Aimee Inglis and Executive Director Dean Preston.

Berkshire Group, a $5.7B private national real estate conglomerate, purchased 901 Jefferson at the end of December 2014. The new landlord stated in January 2015 their intention to raise rents and carve out added fees to services previously included in existing tenants rents.

The first increase notices were sent in February 2015 and the proposed increases were much higher than previously indicated, egregiously high - up to 120% for existing tenants. The tenants decided to take action and not be bullied into being displaced or paying extreme new rents.

Keep an eye on these brave 901 neighbors as they help pave the way for others in Oakland who are experiencing similar pressures.

Please support the cause by signing the petition on the right! Be sure to share with your Oakland friends who are starting to feel the pressure of rent increases or have already been pushed out of their homes.

Help us spread the word by sharing our campaign through your social media channels.